Thin heating pipe

ABSTRACT

A thin heating pipe includes a pipe, a main capillary structure, a first capillary structure, and a second capillary structure. The pipe has a hollow chamber and a connecting chamber. The first capillary structure is disposed in the chamber and between the first and the second capillary structures. The first capillary structure has a first channel, the second capillary structure has a second channel, and the connecting chamber is communicated with the first channel and the second channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of China Patent Application No. 201310126504.3, filed on Apr. 12, 2013, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a heating pipe, and in particular, to a thin heating pipe.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, since portable computers, such as notebooks or tablet computers, have become thinner, thin heating pipes are being used therein, instead of the conventional cylindrical heating pipes, due to the larger size of the conventional cylindrical heating pipes.

However, since the conventional thin heating pipes have a wider width and thinner thickness, the central zone of the thin heating pipe is easily collapse, causing damage thereto. Moreover, because the capillary structure at the heating end of the thin heating pipe is less, a dry out condition may occur, thus, negatively affecting the performance of the heating pipe.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the problems of the prior art, the present disclosure provides a thin heating pipe with the capillary structure. The strength of the heating pipe is increased by the capillary structure, and the capillary structure in the heating zone of the thin heating pipe is increased to prevent the heating pipe from drying out.

The present disclosure provides a thin heating pipe including a pipe, a main capillary structure, a first capillary structure, and a second capillary structure. The pipe has a hollow chamber and a connecting chamber communicated with the hollow chamber. The hollow chamber is extended along an extending path. The main capillary structure is disposed in the hollow chamber extended along the extending path. The first capillary structure is disposed on a side surface of the main capillary structure and has a first channel parallel to the extending path. The second capillary structure is disposed on an opposite side surface of the main capillary structure and has a second channel parallel to the extending path.

The connecting chamber is communicated with the first channel and the second channel. The main capillary structure is located between the first channel and the second channel. The hollow chamber has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and the main capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures are disposed on the top surface and the bottom surface.

In summary, the main capillary structure of an embodiment of the invention located at the central zone of the pipe prevents the central zone of the thin heating pipe from collapsing, and increases the strength of the heating pipe. Moreover, by being disposed around the first and second channels, the capillary structure is increased and thus, prevents the heating pipe from drying out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the thin heating pipe of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view according to the thin heating pipe of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views along the line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line CC of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the thin heating pipe 1 of an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view according to the thin heating pipe 1 of an embodiment of the invention. The thin heating pipe 1 includes a pipe 10, a main capillary structure 20, a first capillary structure 30 and a second capillary structure 40. The pipe 10 is a flat sealed structure. The width of the pipe 10 is at least three, four or five times that of the thickness thereof. The pipe 10 has a first outer surface S1 and a second outer surface S2, and the first outer surface S1 is parallel to the second outer surface S2. The pipe 10 includes thermal conductive material, such as metal, and extends along an extending path R1. In the embodiment, the extending path R1 is extended straight along an extending direction D1. In another embodiment, the extending path R1 may include a straight section and/or curved section.

The pipe 10 has a hollow chamber C1 and a connecting chamber C2. The hollow chamber C1 is extended along the extending path R1, and has a heating zone Z1 and a cooling zone Z2. The heating zone Z1 is adjacent to a heating end E1 of the pipe 10, and the cooling zone Z2 is adjacent to a cooling end E2 of the pipe 10. The hollow chamber C1 also has a central zone Z3 extending along the extending path R1.

The connecting chamber C2 is adjacent to the cooling zone Z2 and the cooling end E2, and communicated with the hollow chamber C1. In the embodiment, the widths, heights and transverse cross-section areas of the hollow chamber C1 and the connecting chamber C2 are substantially the same. In the present disclosure, the transverse direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the extending direction D1 or the extending path R1, and the longitudinal direction is defined as a direction parallel to the extending direction D1 or the extending path R1.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views along the line AA of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line BB of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line CC of FIG. 2. The hollow chamber C1 has a top surface C11, a bottom surface C12, a first side surface C13, and a second side surface C14. The bottom surface C12 is opposite to the top surface C11, and the second side surface C14 is opposite to the first side surface C13.

The top surface C11 is respectively connected to the first side surface C13 and the second side surface C14, and the bottom surface C12 is respectively connected to the first side surface C13 and the second side surface C14. Namely, the top surface C11, the bottom surface C12, the first side surface C13 and the second side surface C14 are formed as a ring surface. In the embodiment, the top surface C11 and the bottom surface C12 are flat, and the top surface C11, the bottom surface C12, the first outer surface S1, and the second outer surface S2 are parallel to each other. The first and second side surfaces C13 and C14 are curved surfaces.

In the embodiment, the main capillary structure 20 and the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 are formed as a single piece, and have the same materials. The main capillary structure 20 and the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 are powder structures or meshed structures.

The main capillary structure 20 is located at the heating zone Z1 and the cooling zone Z2 of the hollow chamber C1, and extended along the extending path R1. The main capillary structure 20 is disposed on the central zone Z3 and disposed on the top surface C11 and the bottom surface C12 of the hollow chamber C1. Therefore, the main capillary structure 20 is used as a support structure to prevent the central zone Z3 from collapsing and to increase the strength of the pipe 10.

The first capillary structure 30 is disposed in the heating zone Z1 of the hollow chamber C1, and disposed on the top surface C11, the bottom surface C12, the first side surface C13, and a side surface of the main capillary structure 20. The first capillary structure 30 has a first channel B1 adjacent to the first side surface C13 of the hollow chamber C1. The first channel B1 is extended along the extending direction D1, parallel to the extending path R1, and extended into the cooling zone Z2 of the hollow chamber C1. As shown FIG. 4, in a transverse cross-section of the pipe 10, the first capillary structure 30 has a ring transverse cross-section, and the first channel B1 is located in the ring transverse cross-section.

The second capillary structure 40 is disposed in the heating zone Z1 of the hollow chamber C1, and disposed on the top surface C11, the bottom surface C12, the second side surface C14, and another side surface opposite to the side surface of the main capillary structure 20. The second capillary structure 40 has a second channel B2 adjacent to the second side surface C14 of the hollow chamber C1. The second channel B2 is extended along the extending direction D1, parallel to the extending path R1, and extended into the cooling zone Z2 of the hollow chamber C1. As shown in FIG. 4, in a transverse cross-section of the pipe 10, the second capillary structure 40 has a ring transverse cross-section, and the second channel B2 is located in the ring transverse cross-section.

In the embodiment, the cooling zone Z2 at the hollow chamber C1 excludes the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40. The first channel B1 is formed by the top surface C11, the first side surface C13, the bottom surface C12 of the hollow chamber C1 and a side surface of the main capillary structure 20. The second channel B2 is formed by the top surface C11, the second side surface C14, the bottom surface C12 of the hollow chamber C1 and another opposite side surface of the main capillary structure 20. In the embodiment, the transverse cross-section areas of the first and second channels B1 and B2 in the cooling zone Z2 are greater than the transverse cross-section areas of the first and second channels B1 and B2 in the heating zone Z1.

By the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 in the heating zone Z1, liquid is fully supplied to the heating zone Z1, and thus, the dry out condition of the heating pipe 1 is prevented. Further, since the cooling zone Z2 excludes the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40, the transverse cross-section areas of the first and second channels B1 and B2 in the cooling zone Z2 is greater. Thus, gas is able to smoothly flow through the first and second channels B1 and B2 in the cooling zone Z2.

The central zone Z3 of the main capillary structure 20 and the hollow chamber C1 are located between the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40, and located between the first and second channels B1 and B2. The connecting chamber C2 is communicated with the first and second channels B1 and B2, but the main capillary structure 20 and the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 are not disposed on the connecting chamber C2. In the embodiment, gas flows between the first and second channels B1 and B2 via the connecting chamber C2, and thus the pressure and the flow of the gas in the first and second channels B1 and B2 are balanced, thus improving the circulation of gas in the thin heating pipe 1.

In another embodiment, the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40 are extended to the cooling zone Z2 of the hollow chamber C1. The first and second channels B1 and B2 are respectively located in the first and second capillary structures 30 and 40. The structures in the heating zone Z1 and the cooling zone Z2 are the same.

In conclusion, the main capillary structure of the invention, located at the central zone of the pipe, prevents the central zone of the thin heating pipe from collapsing, and increases the strength of the heating pipe. Moreover, by being disposed around the first and second channels, the capillary structure is increased and thus, prevents the heating pipe from drying out.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thin heating pipe, comprising: a pipe having a hollow chamber and a connecting chamber communicated with the hollow chamber, wherein the hollow chamber is extended along an extending path; a main capillary structure, disposed in the hollow chamber, extended along the extending path; a first capillary structure, disposed on a side surface of the main capillary structure, having a first channel parallel to the extending path; and a second capillary structure, disposed on an opposite side surface of the main capillary structure, having a second channel parallel to the extending path, wherein the connecting chamber is communicated with the first channel and the second channel, wherein the main capillary structure is located between the first channel and the second channel, and wherein the hollow chamber has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the top surface, and the main capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures are disposed on the top surface and the bottom surface.
 2. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures are formed as a single piece and have the same material.
 3. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber has a central zone extended along the extending path, the main capillary structure is located at the central zone, and the central zone is located between the first channel and the second channel.
 4. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber has a first side surface and a second side surface opposite to the first side surface, the first capillary structure is disposed on the first side surface, the second capillary structure is disposed on the second side surface, the first channel is adjacent to the first side surface, and the second channel is adjacent to the second side surface.
 5. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hollow chamber has a heating zone and a cooling zone, the first and second capillary structures are located at the heating zone, the main capillary structure is located the heating zone and the cooling zone, and the connecting chamber is adjacent to the cooling zone.
 6. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first channel and the second channel are extended to the cooling zone.
 7. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 5, wherein transverse cross-section areas of the first and second channels at the cooling zone are greater than transverse cross-section areas of the first and second channels at the heating zone.
 8. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second capillary structures has a ring transverse cross-section, and the first and second channels are respectively located in the ring transverse cross-sections.
 9. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the extending path is straight.
 10. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin heating pipe is a flat sealed structure.
 11. The thin heating pipe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main capillary structure and the first and second capillary structures are powder structures or meshed structures. 